Four cautions for Bernie Sanders’ supporters
Bernie Sanders supporters should read the article at OpEdNews titled Loving Bernie, But Getting Real. In the many posts I have written on Sanders, at one time or another I have alluded to the issues James Quandy brings up in his article.
The article will make the most ardent supporters of Bernie Sanders really upset. That said it is important to remember that one should be more attached to policy than candidate. Policies can live beyond a candidate’s viability.
Quandy points out 4 specific issues with Bernie Sanders that should be heeded.
What I am referring to is the very basic fact of what I believe one could call his “political identity”: Bernie is a 73 year-old Jewish Socialist from Vermont. Now this very brief description in itself presents what I see as at least 4 “challenges”, any one of which (unfortunately) could be fatal to any candidate for President. Many of these issues have, of course, already been discussed at some length in the media. But I think it might prove useful to try and focus on each one, to some degree (particularly on this site). So, let’s briefly take them one at a time.
More clearly, the four reasons why Quandy believes Bernie Sanders winning the primary let alone the national presidential election is unlikely are,
- He is too old,
- he is Jewish,
- he won’t get the black vote, and
- he is a socialist.
First, I disagree completely that Sanders would not get black support. The black vote is not monolithic. Inasmuch as it votes solidly Democratic it does so because of perceived Democratic policies relative to Republican policies. One should remember that when the 2008 election campaign started, Hillary Clinton was beating then Senator Barack Obama in the polls including among black voters. Black voters vote on perceived policies just like any other voter. As Bernie Sanders starts to codify his economic and social justice platform, black voters could potentially see it as better platform than the moderate policies Hillary Clinton is expounding. Moderate Democratic policies have not been all that kind to the black voter.
Would Americans elect a Jew? Of course they would. While America still has a healthy dose of antisemitism, it also does racism. Most Americans will elect people even if they are biased against them. Why? If that candidate speaks to their hearts and needs, they will. I understood that concept during the Obama campaign. A canvasser went to a home in a white blue collar neighborhood. When the canvasser asked the woman at the door who the family was voting for, the husband shouted, “we are voting for the ni$$er.” Many were taken aback by the statement. When I saw that report I turned to a few fellow activists and said, “Obama is going to win this.” An election is about letting people believe if you get there you can really make a difference – a difference for ‘me’.
Quandy shows polling where 50% of Americans say they would not elect a socialist. However, if Americans are schooled on the real definition of Democratic Socialism it is likely those numbers would change dramatically. When Bernie Sanders speaks about the need for a revolution he is correct. It is not about a revolution to adore him. It is a revolution where all of those in the know teach their fellow Americans as to what Sander’s policies are all about and why it would be best for America. Only massive grassroots action will break the unnecessary fear Americans have for the word. After-all, the happiest people in the world are in fact within Scandinavian countries that practice the comparatively fair and moral democracy Sanders speaks about.
The Bernie Sanders revolution does not address all the ills that organizations like Move to Amend are attempting to address. Giving todays reality and the time it will take to effect real permanent socio-economic and social justice changes, an interim step is not necessarily detrimental.
Bernie Sanders’ age is a big concern. The man is in apparent great health. There are many older folks in their eighties who are quite vibrant. That said, the pressure of the presidency got to Reagan, a president who was really not in control at the end of his term. It is important to note that if Bernie Sanders supporters do the necessary work to get him through the primaries, Sanders will need to ensure a vice president of similar values that is ready to serve as president immediately.
Quandy’s article points out many important questions. Bernie Sanders’ supporters should not blast the article or articles of this type. Instead they must do what is necessary to mitigate the very relevant questions. After-all, they can all be mitigated effectively if supporters take a positive attitude and work hard to coax, asway fears, and help Americans through the morass of false information that will be forthcoming.
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